No loft hatch in Stratford-upon-Avon?

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In older properties, there may be no access point for the loft, which poses a problem if you would like to board your loft or fit a fixed ladder.

Indeed in houses built more than 150 years ago, it is common to find no loft opening. For customers in this situation, our team of trained carpenters can carefully assess where to create an opening so that it is convenient without compromising the roof structure.

Often older houses, particularly Victorian and Edwardian, have large loft areas with good head room which is ideal for storage and access. However, they also often have small loft hatches which can be inconvenient for storing large items. We regularly enlarge existing loft hatches for customers in this age of property.

Whilst we complete most jobs in one day, the installation shown above took two days as the customer wanted a large area boarded, plus the installation of a timber ladder and the creation of a loft hatch where there was none. The customer was delighted with all the new storage possibilities.

To find out more, call or text us on 07712 327 889 or email stuart@stusloftladders.co.uk

New hatch, no mess in Redditch

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Did you know that we can replace your old loft hatch with no mess?

The two photos above are from a recent job to replace an existing hatch. As the ‘after’ photo shows, the new hatch looks as if it was always there.

A new insulated loft door means less heat loss, which with today’s energy costs is a massive benefit.

In addition, many properties have small loft openings, which are not well suited to using the loft for effective storage. The whole experience of accessing the loft space is made far easier when there is room to manoeuvre when carrying up boxes or other items.

We regularly replace loft hatches when fitting loft ladders and are happy to quote on including this service as part of a loft ladder package. Contact us to find out more by emailing stuart@stusloftladders.co.uk

Keeping busy boarding lofts and fitting loft ladders in and around Alcester

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It’s spring and we’ve been busy. Maybe it’s the good weather or maybe just the time of year, but we have been particularly busy this April, boarding lofts and fitting loft ladders in Alcester and the surrounding Warwickshire towns and villages.

The photos below are from a job which shows what we do best: creating functional, easy loft access with no mess to clean up afterwards. For this customer, we fitted an aluminium loft ladder and enlarged the loft opening. The new larger hatch is ready insulated and closely fitting, so no more losing precious heat up to the loft cavity. It leaves a neat finish that blends in and looks as if it were always there. 

Our next job was a loft ladder installation and part-board for a customer in a new-build property in Alcester. Their preference was for a wooden ladder, which, as the photo shows, stows neatly away in the loft space. Part boarding is a popular option as it creates storage space without committing to boarding right up to the eaves, making it more economical.

Wooden loft ladder and part boarding in Alcester

In this third job, our experienced team moved the loft access from the bedroom to the landing. Not only was this a more convenient location, but we were able to ensure that the loft opening was larger than before, making it so much more useable. No more moving beds out of the way and then squeezing through a small loft opening for this customer.

All in all, three happy customers, even more so as all our work is guaranteed

Call us now on 07712 327889 for a no-obligation quote on loft boarding or fitting a fixed ladder. Or email us at stuart@stusloftladders.co.uk

We also move loft hatches and can advise on the best option for your home.

Why put up with a loft opening in the wrong place? We move loft hatches for homeowners in Worcestershire and Warwickshire

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There are enough annoying things to put up with in life, so why add one more to the list? If going up to the loft is a hassle due to the loft opening being in an inconvenient place, it is a problem that can be easily sorted by moving the loft hatch all together.

What can seem like a big job as a DIY project is actually something that Stu’s Loft Ladders undertakes regularly for customers when installing a loft ladder or boarding a loft.

Moving a loft hatch can be a relatively simple job and, when our team does it, there is no mess. In fact, before leaving we will paint around a loft opening, so that in many cases, you cannot tell that it was not there all along.

Maybe the options for relocating your loft hatch are limited and it needs to stay where it is. We can extend the opening to make it easier to use, or change its orientation so that the ladders descends in a more convenient spot.

Every home is different and we are more than happy to visit to advise on relocating a loft hatch or enlarging it. Give us a call on 07712 327889 or email stuart@stusloftladders.co.uk

Relocating a loft hatch – a guide for homeowners in Warwickshire and Worcestershire

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You don’t have to be stuck with a loft opening if its location doesn’t suit your needs. We routinely move loft hatches for customers as part of larger jobs when we install loft boarding or ladders.

So, what should you consider when relocating a loft hatch?

Avoid being close to stairs by changing the direction of the loft hatch

It sounds obvious, but we’ve seen plenty of older loft openings in dangerous spots over or very near to stairways. It is not just a question of having enough space at the bottom of the ladder – you really don’t want to be too near the stairs when exiting or entering the loft at height. If a landing is the only suitable spot for the loft opening, then there may be a simple solution in changing its orientation or making the hatch longer. This can make a big difference by allowing the ladder to run in another direction or at a different angle. 

Having a loft opening in a bedroom comes down to personal preference. If you have small children, then accessing the loft through their bedroom could be tricky past their bedtime. However, if you have a spare bedroom, and it is roomy enough to allow a loft ladder to come down unhindered by the furniture, then it could be ideal.

Bathrooms – this is not a popular option. Space tends to be at a premium in this room and if you have people in the household who hog the bathroom, waiting to gain access to the loft could be frustrating!

Consider head space when using loft ladders

Of course, you also need to consider the point at which the loft opening allows you to enter the loft space. We don’t recommend placing it too near an outside wall or you risk ascending under the eaves.

If you are unsure of what the options are in your home and how much space you will need to accommodate your choice of ladder, then we are happy to provide a no-obligation quote. Contact us now using our webform or on 07712 327889.

Looking to move your loft hatch in Stratford-upon-Avon? There’s no mess and dust with us

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One of the top reasons people often put off having a job done in their homes, even once they have the funds in place, is the worry about any mess and dust it might create.

We like to reassure anyone thinking about moving their loft opening or enlarging the loft hatch, that we take a particular pride in leaving our working area pristine.

Before and after photos from a job where we enlarged the loft opening and fitted a new hatch

What this means, is that we take away any debris and always use dust sheets to protect carpets. When cutting a new loft opening and plastering around the hatch, we make sure that there is no evidence of the work other than the new hatch itself. Take a look at this genuine customer Facebook review from a job last month,

Definitely recommend Stu & team. We had our old loft hatch in the bedroom boarded and painted like it was never there. They then relocated a new large loft hatch in to the hallway with new ladders and boarded the loft. We have plenty of space! Excellent job, reliable and so tidy. If you want a professional service these guys are it. 

This customer loved the fact that we painted the ceiling, so you could not tell where the old loft hatch had been. We’ve even had one customer tell us that her husband did not notice that the loft hatch had been enlarged for a few days because it looked like it had always been that way. This is exactly as it should be – you do not want to make a feature of your loft hatch – you want it to blend into the ceiling. So we won’t take offence if your visitors don’t notice our work!

To find out more contact us for a no-obligation consultation.

When it comes to loft hatches bigger is better in Stratford-upon-Avon and Redditch

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Do you struggle to get larger items into your loft? It’s frustrating – all that loft space that you could use to get awkward items out of sight in your home, but the loft opening itself is too small.

Don’t panic – give us a call. Enlarging loft openings and fitting new hatches is our bread and butter!

We can fit a new loft hatch

Some houses were built with a small loft opening and many new builds still are. We can remove the old hatch door and surround, open a larger space and fit a new surround. 

We offer maintenance-free, white plastic as well as timber that you can stain or paint to the colour you want. Depending on the loft ladder you choose, we offer hatch options up to one metre in length.

Larger loft hatch means less hassle

It might be that you don’t need to store larger items, but you find it awkward carrying items of any size up a ladder and into the loft. The larger the opening, the more space you have to manoeuvre – the whole process feels easier and you are less likely to injure yourself.

So take a look at our loft hatches page or give us a call straight away on 07712 327889.

Three Steps to (Storage) Heaven for homeowners in Warwickshire and Worcestershire

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We like to keep things simple! When it comes to how to improve your loft, there are three main things to consider:

  1. Boarding
    This is the game changer! No more wasted space and no trying to precariously balance things, or worse yourself, on joists. With boarding costing around £35 per square metre, it is good value for money in relation to the space you will gain. If you are thinking about boarding the loft yourself, read our blog post first to check that you have the necessary skills and tools for the job. We get it done in less than a day and clear away all leftover materials and any mess. 
  2. Fixed Loft Ladder
    Make using the loft safe and make it easy. A fixed ladder means that going up to the loft is a breeze. If you already have a fixed loft ladder, but it is a bit heavy and clunky, why not change it for a modern, light version. Life is too short to dread going up to the loft!
  3. Loft Opening
    Is the hatch in the wrong place, like a bedroom or over the stairs? If it is in the right place, but awkward to get to and use, we can enlarge the opening or change the orientation to be more convenient. Changing the loft opening so that it is not over stairs is a job that we do quite often. We can fit a new hatch and surround and leave the ceiling looking as if the new hatch was always there!

There you have it – three steps to maximising your loft space. Contact us now to arrange a no obligation quote, or take a look at our services page for more information.

Loft improvements in Warwick, Redditch, Bidford and Stratford-upon-Avon – all in a week’s work for Stu’s Loft Ladders!

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June is generally a busy month. We are not yet into summer holidays and people are getting on with home improvements before they go away. This year, the effect of coming out of lockdown and people feeling more confident about having work done in their homes, means that our diary is packed. We are certainly not complaining, as we love to be busy! Last week’s loft improvement jobs show a good range of the services we provide.

Boarding in Warwick

First up was a loft boarding job in Warwick, boarding around central roof supports, but leaving the area up to the eaves. We also fitted an aluminium ladder, creating an easy loft access and storage solution. A happy customer and our week was off to a good start!

Partial loft board in Bidford-On-Avon

Next we visited Bidford on Avon for a boarding job. The customer only wanted a partial board, so we created a storage area in the middle section the loft. Another happy customer!

Loft boarding and timber ladder in Stratford-upon-Avon

On to Stratford-upon-Avon. Here we turned wasted space into functional storage with a timber ladder.  Again, the customer wanted boarding to the middle section only, but in this large loft, this still created a large amount of storage potential.

Redditch boarding to middle section of loft

Later in the week we were in Redditch. Again creating a useable storage area with a board to the middle section of a loft. 

Enlarging and moving loft hatches

Our next two jobs were all about loft hatches. In Bidford, we enlarged the loft opening for a client and fitted a new hatch. To finish the week off, we visited another customer to move the loft opening, which had been over the stairs. This is a common location for hatches in older houses and not one that is very safe. We turned the loft around to run the other way on the landing and fitted an aluminium ladder and plastic hatch. 

Get in touch for your loft improvement quote

As you can tell, we specialise in loft improvements and we stay busy through customer recommendations. We are taking bookings now for the rest of June and July. Get in touch if you need some help to unlock the storage potential of your loft! Or still not sure? Check out more pictures of these jobs and others on our Facebook page.

Enlarging the loft opening is no problem in Stratford-upon-Avon and Redditch

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It makes sense that the size of your loft opening will dictate the size of the items you can store up there.  What customers don’t always realise, until we enlighten them, is how easy it is to enlarge the loft opening.

New builds may have small hatch as standard

More often than not, modern house builders will install a small loft hatch as standard. In fact, we often enlarge the loft opening for customers in new builds. We can fit a new hatch with insulated surround and door either in maintenance-free plastic or, if you prefer a more traditional look, in timber.

Having a loft opening of 1 metre in length not only changes what you can store, but also how easy it is to carry any items up to the loft. The extra room gives you space to manoeuvre and the confidence that you won’t scrape your knuckles on the sides whilst carrying a heavy box.

Above shows the loft hatch before…
This is the neatly finished job with a larger hatch

We are skilled carpenters and we’ve been fitting loft hatches for more than a decade, so we can ensure that none of your ceiling joists are compromised.  As part of the quote, we will make good the plaster around the new loft hatch and paint around the hatch to ensure that it looks as if it was already there.

Loft hatch in the wrong place?

If the hatch is in the wrong place entirely, we can move it. Check out this review left earlier this month by a happy customer who asked us to move his loft opening.  You’ll notice that he was very pleased on the tidiness of the job!